Saddle Brook Man Charged After Fiery Paramus Crash

PARAMUS, NJ — A Saddle Brook man is facing assault by auto charges after a head-on collision in Paramus resulted in injuries, and engulfed a car in flames, the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office said.

Paramus police responded to reports of a head-on collision near the Paramus Road and Alpine Drive intersection around 5:15 p.m. on Friday. Officers found two vehicles, a BMW X5 and Honda CRV, with "obvious front-end damage," with at least one of the cars "fully engulfed in flames," the prosecutor said.

Everyone involved in the crash had been removed from their vehicles by the time police arrived, the prosecutor said. Credit goes to "good Samaritans and an off-duty detective" from the Prosecutor's Office for removing the drivers and passengers, officials said.

The driver of the BMW, Robert Stevens, of Saddle Brook, and a 58-year-old male passenger who suffered injuries were both transported to Hackensack University Medical Center for treatment of their injuries. The passenger has since been released from the hospital, the prosecutor said.

The driver of the Honda, a 44-year-old female, was transported to Hackensack University Medical Center with serious bodily injuries and remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Stevens was later arrested and charged with assault by auto. He was also served motor vehicle summonses for driving while intoxicated and reckless driving.

Stevens is scheduled for a first appearance in a Hackensack court on June 25.

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